Chapter 38

Chapter 39: Filling in the Blanks (Part 1)

Eleven Miss followed behind Fifth Miss as they walked northward with Elder Madam. She saw a plum forest on the other side of the hill, but the blossoms had already fallen, leaving only the green foliage behind.

Elder Madam pointed and smiled. “That is the Fragrant Jade Hall. A couple of months ago, you could have enjoyed the plum blossoms.”

After walking a few more steps, they saw the spring flowers on the hillside.

Clusters and bundles of bright green, like gold foil, dotted the hillside all the way to its end.

“It’s truly beautiful!” Fifth Miss murmured softly beside her.

Eleven Miss softly agreed with an “Mm.”

She had seen spring flowers before; the Luo family’s home in Yuhang had about ten plants. But like this, covering the entire hillside, it wasn’t just beautiful—it was breathtaking.

Elder Madam took Second Madam’s hand and continued forward—next to the hillside was an octagonal black lacquered pavilion with gilded characters on the lintel reading “Spring Grace.”

“Let’s sit in the pavilion and have some tea!” Third Lady invited everyone behind them.

Everyone followed into the Spring Grace Pavilion, where servants spread red cushions embroidered with cloud dragons on the rail chairs. They sat down, and the maids served a white tea with a clear yellow-green liquor.

After walking, the light tea was invigorating and made one feel comfortable.

Eleven Miss cradled her tea and looked over at Lady Wen, who was carefully serving. She searched the crowd for Amber—but didn’t see her, nor the one called Sister Autumn Silk.

She smiled slightly.

Sipping tea and chatting casually, Fifth Miss secretly pointed to the half-moon shaped lake and the three thatched cottages by the lake opposite the pavilion. “Isn’t that the ‘Half Moon Pond’?”

“Maybe!” Eleven Miss smiled in response, but as she looked up, she saw Sixth Miss from the Qiao family on the other side, leaning in to listen...

She smiled faintly.

Perhaps, it wasn’t just Lady Qiao who was interested in Xu Lingyi!

After resting enough, Elder Madam led them around the garden again. There was the Angling Pavilion with a four-sided canopy where one could fish; the Beautiful Scenery Pavilion planted with pear, peach, apricot, and tung trees; the Hall of Crabapple Blooms; the Nongxiang Courtyard with its earthen walls; the Flowing Fragrance Dock where one could row boats; and finally, they reached the Lingqiong Villa by following the steps of blue stone slabs behind the hill, taking in the scenery of the Xu family’s rear garden. After descending the hill, a green-curtained sedan chair awaited at the Jufang Pavilion at the foot of the hill. They boarded and returned to the flower hall where meals had already been set out.

After dinner, the group went to Elder Madam’s place.

Chun Ge and Brother Rui were playing happily, holding hands and unwilling to let go for a moment. Zhenjie stood by, covering her mouth and smiling.

They sat for a while, teasing the children a bit. Then the matriarch stood to take her leave.

Elder Madam asked the matriarch to stay. “Come over again in a couple of days!”

The matriarch smiled and agreed. She took Lady Luo, Fifth Miss, Eleven Miss, Lady Wen, Brother Rui, Chun Ge, and others with her to Eldest Miss’s place. Lady Qiao, Sixth Miss, Second Madam, and Third Lady stayed behind in Elder Madam’s room to talk. Zhenjie, accompanied by her wet nurse and maids, went to Elder Madam’s bedroom’s warm pavilion.

Eleven Miss couldn’t help but take another glance.

Lady Wen explained softly, “She’s been with Elder Madam since childhood…” Her expression carried a mix of pride and sadness.

Meanwhile, Chun Ge, upon seeing his mother, ran over quickly.

Eldest Miss smiled lovingly. “Gently, gently, don’t get hurt.”

Chun Ge’s movements indeed became lighter. He spoke cleverly to his mother about what happened at Elder Madam’s place today. “...I ate pine flower cakes, and Sister gave me a handkerchief to wipe my mouth. Sister Wei Zi took us to see the koi fish. Brother Rui wanted to fish in the pond but was pulled back by Sister...”

Eldest Miss listened attentively to Chun Ge’s words without a hint of impatience.

After Chun Ge finished speaking, the matriarch repeatedly urged Yuan Niang, "Don't overexert yourself," and "If anything happens in Yanjing, send someone to inform me," before preparing to leave.

Seeing them about to go, Chun Ge looked at Rui Ge with longing eyes. "When will you come again?"

Elder Madam Luo let out a soft sigh.

The matriarch, however, wore a satisfied smile. "After all, we are cousins by marriage. Even if we break our bones, we’re still connected by blood. They’ve only met a few times, but they’re already like real brothers." She then patted Chun Ge's head. "In a couple of days, your grandmother will come to see you!"

Unlike the first time when they were more distant, Chun Ge did not avoid the matriarch’s hand this time. He stood obediently, letting her touch his head, and nodded obediently.

Lady Wen offered to see off the matriarch, but Yuan Niang called her back. "Let Pot Mama see her out. You stay and keep me company!"

Lady Wen respectfully agreed, and the matriarch, not minding at all, left with Pot Mama.

Upon returning to Gongxian Alley, Hang Mama was already waiting at the entrance. "Matriarch, you’re back!"

After touring the garden all day, the matriarch was somewhat tired. She gave a slight nod, and Hang Mama said, "Second Master and Third Master came, and they’ve been in the study with the Eldest Master."

The matriarch was slightly startled.

Hang Mama smiled. "No sooner had you left than Second Master and Third Master arrived. They’ve been in the study all afternoon and haven’t come out yet!"

"I understand," the matriarch responded gravely, and hurriedly entered through the door.

The others quickly followed, seeing the matriarch walking briskly toward the Eldest Master's study.

Elder Madam Luo exchanged a glance with Hang Mama, then smiled and said to Fifth Miss and Eleven Miss, "We’re all tired today. Rest well!"

The two bowed and returned to their rooms.

As she changed clothes, Amber hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

Eleven Miss, composed, finished washing and sat down on the large kang by the window. She sipped the clear tea on the table, then asked Amber, who had been standing by the kang, "What is it?"

Amber glanced at Dongqing.

"We’re all family here," Eleven Miss smiled. "There’s no need to hide anything. Besides, although we don’t talk about it, everyone understands what’s going on."

Dongqing immediately stopped what she was doing and smiled. "Miss, I’ll check if the white porridge in the kitchen is ready."

"Sit and listen," Eleven Miss smiled and patted the edge of the kang. "Many heads are better than one. Help me think of a solution!"

Dongqing responded with a "yes" and stood beside Amber.

After thinking for a moment, Amber carefully relayed the information she had obtained from Autumn Silk to Eleven Miss. "...The Wang family has long appeared strong but is actually quite fragile inside. Their daily expenses depend mainly on their salary and two estates left by their ancestors in Xinzhou, as well as the income from a rice shop they own near the East Gate."

Eleven Miss nodded slightly.

Wealth doesn’t last beyond three generations. For a century-old family, they were doing quite well.

"Duke Mao has only one daughter and one son. The daughter was married into the Le'an Jiang family, and the son is Wang Lang," Amber continued. "This young master was born to the Duke in his later years and was extremely doted upon. Therefore..." she paused, "It is said that his temper is very violent. He killed someone in a fit of rage two years ago..."

Eleven Miss was slightly taken aback.

In a flash of insight, she suddenly froze.

Why was she surprised? Or perhaps, deep down, she had hoped for someone who could lead her out of her predicament... and coincidentally, Wang Lang appeared!

She was suddenly drenched in cold sweat.

Has the desire been so strong for too long that even the slightest hope is infinitely magnified, causing her to ignore the unease in her heart?

Amber fell silent as she saw Eleven Miss bow her head in deep thought.

For a moment, the room fell into silence.

After a long while, Eleven Miss finally let out a long breath.

Her expression gradually took on a resolute air: "Apart from saying that Young Master Wang had beaten someone to death, what else was mentioned?"

Amber shook her head. "In the past, Fifth Young Master Xu used to play with Young Master Wang. After the incident, the elder madam gave orders that Fifth Young Master Xu was not allowed to associate with Young Master Wang anymore. She also said that if Fifth Young Master Xu dared to associate with Young Master Wang again, the Marquis would send him to guard the borders in Gansu for ten years, and he wouldn’t see the walls of Yanjing for eight to ten years."

Eleven Miss was somewhat surprised.

The elder madam’s reaction seemed so intense...

As the thought flashed through her mind, she asked, "Who did the eldest daughter of the Wang family marry in the Jiang family?"

"She married Jiang Gui, the sixth son of Jiang Jie." Amber relayed all this information to Eleven Miss. "Jiang Gui is a jinshi graduate and is currently the prefect of Taiyuan. He has an elder brother, Jiang Bai, who is a shujishi and now serves as the chancellor of the Hanlin Academy. Another elder brother, Jiang Song, was the top scholar in the Jianwu forty-sixth year. He resigned from his position as an editor after three years at the Hanlin Academy and returned to his hometown of Le’an, where he opened a school called 'Jinxiu' to educate children from poor families. Jiang Jie's grandfather was the imperial tutor of the previous emperor, and it is said that it was because of this that he became the chief minister. His great-great-grandfather was the imperial tutor of Emperor Jing."

A top scholar returning to his hometown to teach poor children...

Though the Luo family was also known for its scholarly traditions, compared to the Jiang family, they seemed to lack the noble and far-reaching sentiments of purity and elegance.

A thought crossed Eleven Miss’s mind. "Amber, did you hear clearly that Jiang Song was the top scholar in the Jianwu forty-sixth year?"

Amber hurriedly said, "I even asked Sister Autumn Silk about it. How do you remember so clearly? Sister Autumn Silk said that she was born the same year the top scholar paraded in red, and her mother often talks about it."

"Jianwu forty-sixth year," Eleven Miss murmured. "Second Young Master also passed the imperial examination that year... So, they were of the same cohort..."

Amber didn’t know about these matters and remained silent.

A person must have a purpose when doing things.

What was Eldest Miss’s purpose?

What connection was there?

Eleven Miss leaned back softly against the autumn-fragrance-colored brocade pillow.

It was like a crossword puzzle; once the correct answer was filled in, the solution would appear.

But what was the missing piece in this puzzle?

Something flashed through her mind, but she couldn’t grasp it...

A declining Wang family and a prestigious Jiang family!

It was like a revelation. She suddenly sat up and asked, "Amber, who helped cover up the fact that Young Master Wang beat someone to death?"

Amber said, "It was Fifth Young Master Xu!"

"Xu Lingkuan!" Eleven Miss's eyes flickered.

"Sister Autumn Silk said that Fifth Young Master meddled," Amber hurriedly said. "Because of this, the Marquis withheld his monthly allowance for a whole year. He had to rely on Third Young Master’s secret assistance to get by!"

"What about the Jiang family then?" Eleven Miss's expression became serious. "As relatives by marriage, what were the Jiang family doing at that time?"